Florida International Golden Panthers at Iowa Hawkeyes

Saturday, September 6

The Golden Panthers of FIU (0-1 SU, 1-0 ATS) lost badly but actually had a covering effort in their first game (as if that were any solace). On Saturday they will travel to Iowa City to meet up with the Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) in an inter-conference game that is set for a Noon ET kickoff at Kinnick Stadium (natural turf).

BetUS NCAA Betting Odds: IOWA -26.5, Total 41

Here are some of the NCAA football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* FIU has covered six of its last 21 games

* FIU has lost 24 of its last 25 games SU

* FIU has played four of its last six games OVER the total

* FIU has covered three of its last 12 road games

* FIU has lost its last 14 road games SU

* FIU has played four of its last six road games OVER the total

* IOWA has won four of its last five games SU

* IOWA has covered four of its last six games

* IOWA has played five of its last seven games UNDER the total

* IOWA has played ten of its last 13 games UNDER the total

* IOWA has won four of its last five home games SU

I guess this one depends on how much faith you have that the FIU program is making baby steps under coach Mario Cristobal. In the season opener, FIU wasn't counted on to produce very much, but they did get the cover at Kansas, despite a 40-10 defeat. The Panthers only advanced the ball 139 yards from scrimmage, and their only touchdown came on a punt return. But you may want to give this team a break, as it was the highest-rated opponent they have faced since being a Division I school.

On Saturday they step down in class a little when they go to Iowa, but that doesn't mean the offensive woes (FIU was last nationally in points scored last year) are going to be cured. Paul McCall, the sophomore quarterback, was just 10 for 28 in the Kansas game, for 73 yards and two interceptions. Wayne Younger could see some action in this game, but he threw 17 INT's and was less than 46% last year. Besides, the coaching staff has a lot of faith in McCall, a heady type who last year led the Panthers to their first win since 2005.

Iowa beat Maine 46-3 in a virtual exhibition last week, and this one may be treated like that as well. Shonn Greene, who missed last year, has offered some encouragement, running for 109 yards after missing all of last season. But the Hawkeyes are still unsettled on a quarterback, as Jake Christensen has not provided the kind of consistency that has completely satisfied coach Kirk Ferentz. Christensen is not necessarily a big downfield thrower, and if there is any strength to this FIU team, it's in the secondary.

Cristobal, a former University of Miami player and assistant, has done some very effective recruiting around the south Florida area. That will pay dividends sooner or later. Probably later. Still, we don't feel all that comfortable laying the points with this Iowa squad, and we don't figure they will have the second half killer instinct, or the motivation to apply it. So it's a mild recommendation on FIU, the 26.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA football betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL +26.5 *

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com gives it more than the old college try as a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)